Electric Guitar Trends

I see that Epiphone has started a new electric guitar series, the “Epiphone Historic Custom USA” collection.  The first guitar in this new made in USA series is the 1962 Epiphone Wilshire.

Epiphone used to be a separate US company, until Gibson acquired the company in 1957.  By 1958, Gibson was manufacturing Epiphone electric guitars in the U.S., mostly as less expensive versions of the Gibson guitar models.

The Wilshire was one of several Epiphone versions of a budget Gibson guitar, the Melody Maker.  In the 1960’s Epiphone produced the Olympic, Crestwood, and the Wilshire.  The Wilshire was made from 1959 - 1970 and unlike the Melody Maker, all of them had 2 pickups.  From 1960 - 1962 the Wilshire featured 2 P-90 pickups.  Almost all of them were cherry in color.

The new Wilshire appears to be a nice electric guitar. It had better be, with a street price of 3 grand (see the Links section for a YouTube video of the Wilshire).

So, what are the trends here?  Well, we see Epiphone manufacturing shifting to the US for the first time in about 40 years for one thing. I guess the Chinese made Epiphone Elitist Series (which uses made in USA hardware) is not as successful as hoped.  I also see the continuation of a trend to keep resurrecting old models from decades ago.  I think people like to buy these recreations, and it’s a trick the younger guitar manufacturers can’t copy.

1962 Epiphone Wilshire in action